The Ombudsman of the Virginia Small Business Assistance Program is Michael Dowd.  Mr. Dowd is the Director of the Air Division of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.  He can be reached by phone at (804) 698-4284, toll-free in Virginia at 1-800-592-5482, ext. 4284, or by e-mail at Michael.Dowd@deq.virginia.gov.  The Small Business Assistance Liaison for the OSBA is Patti Higgins, she can be reached at (804) 698-4065 or email at osba@deq.virginia.gov.

The Ombudsman represents the interest of small businesses; resolves small business complaints, and acts as an advocate for the small business community.  The Ombudsman is expected to carry out the following duties: 

• Conduct independent evaluations of all aspects of the SBAP;
• Provide comments and recommendations to the EPA and State/local air pollution control authorities;
• Facilitate and promote the participation of small businesses in the development of new regulations;
• Assist in providing reports to higher authorities and the public;
• Aid in the dissemination of information to small businesses and other interested parties;
• Participate in and sponsor meetings and conferences with State/local regulatory officials, industry groups, and small business representatives;
• Investigate and resolve complaints by small businesses;
• Operate a toll free telephone Hot Line (1-800-592-5482) to provide confidential help on individual source problems and grievances;
• Periodically review the work and services provided by the SBAP with trade associations and small business representatives;
• Refer small businesses to the appropriate specialists in the SBAP;
• Arrange for and assist in the preparation of guideline documents by the SBAP to ensure that the language is readily understandable by the lay person;
• Work with trade associations and small businesses to bring about voluntary compliance;
• Interface with Regional and State offices of the Small Business Administration, the Department of Commerce and/or other States;
• Interface with private sector financial institutions to assist small businesses in locating funding sources to comply with State/local air pollution control requirements; and
• Conduct studies to evaluate the impacts of the Act on the State's economy, local economies, and small businesses.